Grouper, Yellowedge – U.S.

Yellowedge Grouper are found in deep-waters of the western Atlantic from North Carolina to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. They are a long-lived, slow growing species that changes sex (from female to male) as they grow; these characteristics make them extremely vulnerable to fishing pressure.

Abundance of Yellowedge Grouper is likely low or near low in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. In the U.S. South Atlantic, there has been no recent assessment of Snowy Grouper, so its abundance is unknown.

Yellowedge Grouper are primarily captured using bottom longlines but also handlines. The fisheries that catch Yellowedge Grouper target a range of groupers, snappers, and other fish, and result in bycatch of some depleted species. The longline fisheries also accidentally catch some sea turtles and sharks. Fishing occurs over some sensitive habitats, like rocky reefs. While handline fishing causes minimal habitat damage, fishing with bottom longlines may result in moderate damage to these habitats.

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Fish Key:

Species has a combination of problems such as overfishing, high bycatch, and poor management.

Some problems exist with this species' status or catch methods, or information is insufficient for evaluating.

Species is relatively abundant, and fishing methods cause little damage to habitat and other wildlife.

A fishery targeting this species has been certified as sustainable and well managed to the Marine Stewardship Council's environmental standard. Learn more at http://www.msc.org.

These fish contain levels of mercury or PCBs that may pose a health risk to adults and children. Our source of information is http://seafood.edf.org/. We also recommend that you check local advisories.